Tennis and the Olympics
How the game of tennis reveals a player’s character and the character of his nation
As I write this column the 2016 Summer Olympics are mere days away and it appears that most of the major tennis stars are headed for Rio. Unlike golf where three of the sport’s major superstars, Rory McIlroy, Jason Day and Jordon Spieth, have opted not to play, it seems that tennis pros have a more nationalistic heart and want to represent their nation on the world’s grandest stage. Good for them.
This seems like the right time to talk about the character of tennis players based upon their homeland. Tennis may be the most revealing of all sports with regard to the personality of the player. Their reactions, stamina, attitude, courage and temperament are often revealing of who they are as individuals. John McEnroe’s classic “You cannot be serious” rant says something about who he is, but also about his country of origin. America is brash, bold, aggressive and highly competitive, and it’s no surprise that America gave birth to players like Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe and Serena Williams.
So let’s have some fun and review our favorite tennis stars’ behavior to see how they express national character.
Roger Federer and Switzerland
Roger Federer is arguably the best singles player in tennis history and his nature is elegant, unflappable and catlike. We have never seen screaming, pouting, cursing or racket throwing out of Roger and he is so mediagenic and media safe that Credit Suisse uses him as their corporate face. Switzerland has a long history of political neutrality and is known as the wealthiest and safest country on Earth, with a superb quality of life and civil liberties. Roger Federer is a true Swiss: Efficient, meticulous, relaxed, easy-going and in perfect control.
Andy Murray and Great Britain
The British are reserved, well-mannered, proud and love their pubs. They are also very gifted in their use of language and have a dry sense of humor. When asked by English sports TV commentator Cara Robinson to describe himself in three words, Andy Murray said “Boring, unfunny and miserable.” Murray is reserved, introspective and humble. British psychoanalyst Samuel Flax describes the English as pessimistic and self-doubting, and when you hear Andy Murray in interview, you understand just how right Flax is.
Rafael Nadal and Spain
There are many famous Hispanic athletes, including Sammy Sosa in baseball; Nancy Lopez, Chi Chi Rodriguez, Lee Trevino and Sergio Garcia in golf; and Angel Cordero, Jose Santos and Laffit Pincay in thoroughbred racing. The most obvious personality traits of these Hispanic athletes are flamboyance, openness, humor, friendliness and strong family ties. Rafael Nadal is much the same. He is instantly likable and appealing, typically has a smile for the media, and remains close to his family and hometown.
Lleyton Hewitt and Australia
Australia has produced some of the best tennis players in history, including Rod Laver, Ken Rosewall, Roy Emerson, Lleyton Hewitt and Patrick Rafter. Australians are known to be individualistic, direct and punctual. In golf, Australia produced Greg Norman and Adam Scott. It is a nation which was settled by England and they still use English as its mother tongue. I find Australians to be athletic, attractive, outdoorsy and willing to take risks like Americans. Perhaps their sense of individuality and risk-taking ability has something to do with crossing the high seas to get there.
The Williams Sisters and America
Bold, brash and beautiful … that describes the Williams Sisters, as well as America. The list of bold and beautiful American sports heroes include Muhammad Ali in boxing and Tiger Woods in golf. America is a dominant force in sports, banking, entertainment, science and politics. And their athletes reflect our competitive, energetic and optimistic nature. John McEnroe is a Stanford educated superstar who dominated tennis with his “You can’t be serious” attitude and now dominates television with his charm and wit.
It will be a delight to watch tennis in the Rio Olympics, and if you watch closely, it will also serve as a lesson in cultural anthropology. We will be seeing each athlete proudly represent their nation and as they do, so they will unwittingly be revealing its national character. The British are polite, the Swiss are meticulous, Hispanics are friendly, Australians are risk-takers and Americans are brash. There may be no other sport on Earth that so plainly reveals the character of the player, and in the case of the Olympics, it will also reveal the character of a nation.
